On Thursday, the weekly play group was planned for 10 am, as usual. The only thing different about this week was the birthday party I planned for Samantha. I made rainbow cupcakes and bowls of different topping to decorate them with, bought party favors for all her friends, and had beads and string so everyone could make a necklace. Cleaning the house and getting everything set up before 10 was a bit of a race against the clock.
I decided that Samantha should help out and clean the play room. She knows how to put the toys in the toy box, and it would take a little of the pressure off of me. Well, it should have taken a little pressure off of me. It didn't. I think trying to get your kids to clean is more stressful than just doing it yourself.
Now, as a parent, what do you do when your kids are not doing what they are supposed to? You threaten them. At one point I said, "Do you want to go put the toys away or sit on your bed while your friends are here?" Samantha responded, "Sit on my bed." And started up the stairs. When you threaten, kids are not supposed to be okay with it! So I came back with, "Fine, then I'm going to throw away all of the cupcakes!" "No!!!" And she rushed into the play room. Of course, she didn't stay long.
When the threats are just not working, then it might be time to reason with the child (even if they are three and have no idea what you are saying). So, I said, in a not so calm voice (probably not very effective for reasoning), "I have worked very hard and just want you to have a good birthday!!!" In stead of feeling like she should now help, she just gave me a look of confusion. It was like she was wondering if she should be offended, sad, or sorry. In the end, she decided to just stand there.
After the threats have failed and the reasoning goes over their head, its time to just get something done! I finished everything I needed to do then helped Samantha with the play room. It was as easy as that!
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
Great Timing
Right after I wrote the last post, about trying to remember how sweet my kids really are, I walked into the kitchen and found this!
I just had to remember what my sister-in-law once told me, you can get mad or you can take a picture. I took a picture!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
She Really IS a Sweet Girl!
Do you ever have days or weeks where your kids test your patience more than usual? I hope I'm not alone in this. Most of the time, I'm just fine. But every once in a while, I just can't take it any more. Those are the times that my husband gets a phone call on the way home from work, instructing him to stop at Arby's for dinner. On those days, Samantha gets to watch more television than usual. The house is not clean at the end of the day. I do not run errands unless I have no choice. You get the picture.
On the flip side, there are days when I just can't believe how wonderful my kids are. They will just do something to make me think, "I must be doing something right, at least once in a while."
I had one of those experiences this past weekend. On Friday, I subbed for a Kindergarten aide. So, of course, when I came home I started to feel sick. By Saturday morning, I didn't want to move. I just hurt everywhere! At one point in the day, I was laying on the couch with my eyes closed while Samantha was watching a movie. Out of no where, I feel two little hands move the hair off of my forehead and give me a kiss. It was the sweetest thing! I was so surprised, and my heart just melted all in the same moment.
As I've struggled with her this week (yes, I know I'm writing this on Tuesday), I keep trying to remember that moment. She really does like me. She really does care. She isn't here to make me go crazy. She really is a sweet girl. Telling myself this has helped a little, although Michael did pick up some dinner last night.
On the flip side, there are days when I just can't believe how wonderful my kids are. They will just do something to make me think, "I must be doing something right, at least once in a while."
I had one of those experiences this past weekend. On Friday, I subbed for a Kindergarten aide. So, of course, when I came home I started to feel sick. By Saturday morning, I didn't want to move. I just hurt everywhere! At one point in the day, I was laying on the couch with my eyes closed while Samantha was watching a movie. Out of no where, I feel two little hands move the hair off of my forehead and give me a kiss. It was the sweetest thing! I was so surprised, and my heart just melted all in the same moment.
As I've struggled with her this week (yes, I know I'm writing this on Tuesday), I keep trying to remember that moment. She really does like me. She really does care. She isn't here to make me go crazy. She really is a sweet girl. Telling myself this has helped a little, although Michael did pick up some dinner last night.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Enjoy the Rain
As I walked out of the Smith building, away from my last class of the day, I saw rain pouring from the sky. It had been nice out when I started classes that day, but now there was water everywhere. People had their heads tucked under jackets, coats wrapped around their books and assignments, faces down in an effort to keep them dry, and they were rushing as quickly as they could to class, work, home, or wherever they needed to be. As I looked at the rain, I made the decision that I was going to enjoy it. I walked down the steps of the Smith building, held out my arms, and looked at the sky. It was wonderful! Just then, some boy, hurrying by, said, "You are having way too much fun!" and rushed on. I couldn't help but smile. I didn't know if I was having TOO much fun, but I was having fun. I loved the rain. I went home and got a couple of roommates to come outside with me. We splashed in puddles like we were 5 years old. We danced in the rain. We had a great time in weather that no one else seemed to be enjoying. Afterwards, we were soaked and cold, but it didn't matter. We put on pajamas and drank hot chocolate.
I've been thinking about that experience a lot the last week or so. I've decided that I need to look at more situations in my life the way I looked at that rain. I remember making the decision, I was going to love that rainy day, and I did. I am making an effort to look at things in my life the same way. There are so many things that we get to experience. Often, others with similar experiences will try to hurry though, trying hard not to get their faces and books too wet. I don't want to have any time in my life rushed through. I only get so long here on this earth, why not love every minute that I can. I'm going to look up, hold out my arms, and have way too much fun; I'm going to splash in the puddles, and I'm going to try to bring my friends and family with me! We are going to get soaked. Every ounce of water that can possibly soak into our clothes, will. But in the end, it will be a great experience. A great memory. A great way to decide to look at the rainfalls of life!
I've been thinking about that experience a lot the last week or so. I've decided that I need to look at more situations in my life the way I looked at that rain. I remember making the decision, I was going to love that rainy day, and I did. I am making an effort to look at things in my life the same way. There are so many things that we get to experience. Often, others with similar experiences will try to hurry though, trying hard not to get their faces and books too wet. I don't want to have any time in my life rushed through. I only get so long here on this earth, why not love every minute that I can. I'm going to look up, hold out my arms, and have way too much fun; I'm going to splash in the puddles, and I'm going to try to bring my friends and family with me! We are going to get soaked. Every ounce of water that can possibly soak into our clothes, will. But in the end, it will be a great experience. A great memory. A great way to decide to look at the rainfalls of life!
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Seatbelts and a Sticker
Its amazing the things I remember from childhood. Of all the things that my brain could store, it has chosen some odd memories at times. One such memory comes from Mrs. Newman's kindergarten class at Knowlton Elementary in Farmington, UT.
I don't remember anything about the day, other than the fact that Mrs. Newman talked to my class about wearing seat belts. She asked us to raise our hand if we promised to always wear a seat belt. Everyone, of course, raised their hand and in turn got a sticker for making that promise. I have no idea what kind of a sticker, but I do know I got one. I also remember kids asking her questions like, "What if we are just driving across the street?" or "What if the car doesn't have a seat belt?" etc... (You can imagine what a group of 5 year old kids would be like). She answered the barrage of unusual questions while handing out the stickers.
Now, every time I get in the car and don't put my seat belt on, I think of that day. Weird, I know. Its been over 20 years ago, but I can never seem to forget the promise I made to Mrs. Newman, I would always wear my seat belt (even if we are just driving across the street)! I mean, she gave me a sticker! How could I lie to her after such a great trade?!?
I don't remember anything about the day, other than the fact that Mrs. Newman talked to my class about wearing seat belts. She asked us to raise our hand if we promised to always wear a seat belt. Everyone, of course, raised their hand and in turn got a sticker for making that promise. I have no idea what kind of a sticker, but I do know I got one. I also remember kids asking her questions like, "What if we are just driving across the street?" or "What if the car doesn't have a seat belt?" etc... (You can imagine what a group of 5 year old kids would be like). She answered the barrage of unusual questions while handing out the stickers.
Now, every time I get in the car and don't put my seat belt on, I think of that day. Weird, I know. Its been over 20 years ago, but I can never seem to forget the promise I made to Mrs. Newman, I would always wear my seat belt (even if we are just driving across the street)! I mean, she gave me a sticker! How could I lie to her after such a great trade?!?
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Change in Plans
Often, when you are trying to follow the plan that Heavenly Father wants you to follow, things turn out way different than you expect them to. I know that this has been the case for me many times.
Not quite a year after I got married, I was at a general church meeting. To me, it seemed like every speaker was talking about have children and being a mother. After a lot of thought and prayer, Michael and I decided that is was time to have a family. This is not at all what I had planned. I was still in school, and if I had a baby 9 months from then, I would still have my student teaching to do. Student teaching with a new baby would be really hard. But, if this was the plan that I was supposed to follow, I would.
A couple months later I was pregnant. I was so excited! A baby! I had no idea what having a baby entailed, but it would be an adventure that I was willing to take on. Just a couple of weeks later, I thought I was having a miscarriage. False alarm! I went to my first doctor's appointment, had an ultrasound, and saw the baby and a strong heart beat. All of my fears about a miscarriage were set aside.
I was twelve weeks along when we went to Illinois to spend Christmas with Michael's family. We decided I was far enough along to make an announcement.
A couple of weeks later, school had started again. I was the assistant stage manager for a production on campus and, as such, had the duty to help cast the show. During call backs the thing I had feared most happened, I started bleeding. I tried to ignore it and get through the auditions. When I got home late that night, I was in tears. I knew I was having a miscarriage.
After a very long night, a trip to the hospital, a cranky and not very nice doctor, a partial D and C and a lot of tears, I went home. It was a Friday night, so at least I had the weekend at home. I didn't have to tell anyone for a couple of days at least. That was going to be the worst part of the entire ordeal.
At church on Sunday, I sat by a very pregnant woman. I hadn't really thought about it when I sat down. She was new. I wanted to make a new friend. Then the list of who was pregnant and when they were due came around. The leaders liked to keep track of who was having a baby and when so they could help out with meals for a couple days. The week before I had put my name on that list. When I got the list I started crying and crossed my name off. It was devastating for me. Then, out of no where, this amazing sister that didn't even know me put her arm around me. It was a very small act of kindness, but she will never know how much that helped me get through that moment and that day. It makes me cry, even now, to think about her kindness.
On Saturday or Sunday night, my sister-in-law stopped by with some dinner for us. When she was there she started to tell me about her miscarriage. At first, I didn't want to hear it. So many people had tried to tell me about their own miscarriages in order to comfort me. I didn't want to be comforted, I just wanted to be sad for a little while. But then she said something to me that put the entire situation into perspective. She said, if she wouldn't have had her miscarriage, she wouldn't have had her daughter. At that moment, I knew why this awful experience happened. I was being prepared for a different child to come into my home.
Three months later, I was pregnant with my beautiful daughter Samantha. She came just in time for me to be done with my student teaching.
Life doesn't always work out according to your plan, but it does work out according to our Father in Heaven's plan. That is such a comfort to know!
Not quite a year after I got married, I was at a general church meeting. To me, it seemed like every speaker was talking about have children and being a mother. After a lot of thought and prayer, Michael and I decided that is was time to have a family. This is not at all what I had planned. I was still in school, and if I had a baby 9 months from then, I would still have my student teaching to do. Student teaching with a new baby would be really hard. But, if this was the plan that I was supposed to follow, I would.
A couple months later I was pregnant. I was so excited! A baby! I had no idea what having a baby entailed, but it would be an adventure that I was willing to take on. Just a couple of weeks later, I thought I was having a miscarriage. False alarm! I went to my first doctor's appointment, had an ultrasound, and saw the baby and a strong heart beat. All of my fears about a miscarriage were set aside.
I was twelve weeks along when we went to Illinois to spend Christmas with Michael's family. We decided I was far enough along to make an announcement.
A couple of weeks later, school had started again. I was the assistant stage manager for a production on campus and, as such, had the duty to help cast the show. During call backs the thing I had feared most happened, I started bleeding. I tried to ignore it and get through the auditions. When I got home late that night, I was in tears. I knew I was having a miscarriage.
After a very long night, a trip to the hospital, a cranky and not very nice doctor, a partial D and C and a lot of tears, I went home. It was a Friday night, so at least I had the weekend at home. I didn't have to tell anyone for a couple of days at least. That was going to be the worst part of the entire ordeal.
At church on Sunday, I sat by a very pregnant woman. I hadn't really thought about it when I sat down. She was new. I wanted to make a new friend. Then the list of who was pregnant and when they were due came around. The leaders liked to keep track of who was having a baby and when so they could help out with meals for a couple days. The week before I had put my name on that list. When I got the list I started crying and crossed my name off. It was devastating for me. Then, out of no where, this amazing sister that didn't even know me put her arm around me. It was a very small act of kindness, but she will never know how much that helped me get through that moment and that day. It makes me cry, even now, to think about her kindness.
On Saturday or Sunday night, my sister-in-law stopped by with some dinner for us. When she was there she started to tell me about her miscarriage. At first, I didn't want to hear it. So many people had tried to tell me about their own miscarriages in order to comfort me. I didn't want to be comforted, I just wanted to be sad for a little while. But then she said something to me that put the entire situation into perspective. She said, if she wouldn't have had her miscarriage, she wouldn't have had her daughter. At that moment, I knew why this awful experience happened. I was being prepared for a different child to come into my home.
Three months later, I was pregnant with my beautiful daughter Samantha. She came just in time for me to be done with my student teaching.
Life doesn't always work out according to your plan, but it does work out according to our Father in Heaven's plan. That is such a comfort to know!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
The Story Continues
The fall semester started. I was so excited! I had decided to just have fun, boys were not even on my radar. I had just moved in with some friends, I was working at the campus book store, and I had some great classes. And, best of all, my roommates and I had established Wednesdays as "Chick-Flick and Chocolate Night!" It was going to be a great semester, I just knew it!
A week or two into the semester, Michael appeared at the book store looking for a stapler. Since they were in my section of the store, I helped him find one. We talked for a while, and I eventually invited him to come watch a movie with my roommates and me (it was Wednesday). Unlike most boys we ever invited, he said he would come! Great! I was excited to have some guy friends to add to my fun semester.
We ended up becoming great friends fast. He was very interested in a girl that lived three doors down from me. She just led him on a lot, so he'd come to me for advice. Eventually I told him he just needed to move on and date someone else.
On day we went to the park with my roommates. We were just playing games and hanging out. The next thing I know, my roommates and know where to be found. They had ditched us! I was so embarrassed!!! I wasn't even sure if I liked him enough to date him, and now he was probably thinking I set the whole thing up! When I got home and saw all three girls, smiling to themselves, I let them know what I thought about their little plan. They kept telling me he was interested, but I would just rebuttal with, "No way! We are way to much alike. If I was a boy, I would be him!"
A week or two later, he asked me to hang out with him and a group of friends on Saturday. Sounded good to me! My brother and another guy I knew growing up were going to be there too. I showed up to the meeting point before Michael and was asked by my friend if I was Michael's date. Date? I had never heard the word date in context with this little outing. To say I was a little confused would be an understatement. I later found out, he asked me to come because he felt like he had to since I had invited him to so many things. Flattering!
We eventually started dating. And, of course, as soon as we were dating, the girl a few doors down decided she really wanted to date him too. Good thing she was a little slow on the uptake! It was a little weird for a while, but we were soon engaged (another great story for another time) and then married. I think marrying your best friend is really the way to go!
A week or two into the semester, Michael appeared at the book store looking for a stapler. Since they were in my section of the store, I helped him find one. We talked for a while, and I eventually invited him to come watch a movie with my roommates and me (it was Wednesday). Unlike most boys we ever invited, he said he would come! Great! I was excited to have some guy friends to add to my fun semester.
We ended up becoming great friends fast. He was very interested in a girl that lived three doors down from me. She just led him on a lot, so he'd come to me for advice. Eventually I told him he just needed to move on and date someone else.
On day we went to the park with my roommates. We were just playing games and hanging out. The next thing I know, my roommates and know where to be found. They had ditched us! I was so embarrassed!!! I wasn't even sure if I liked him enough to date him, and now he was probably thinking I set the whole thing up! When I got home and saw all three girls, smiling to themselves, I let them know what I thought about their little plan. They kept telling me he was interested, but I would just rebuttal with, "No way! We are way to much alike. If I was a boy, I would be him!"
A week or two later, he asked me to hang out with him and a group of friends on Saturday. Sounded good to me! My brother and another guy I knew growing up were going to be there too. I showed up to the meeting point before Michael and was asked by my friend if I was Michael's date. Date? I had never heard the word date in context with this little outing. To say I was a little confused would be an understatement. I later found out, he asked me to come because he felt like he had to since I had invited him to so many things. Flattering!
We eventually started dating. And, of course, as soon as we were dating, the girl a few doors down decided she really wanted to date him too. Good thing she was a little slow on the uptake! It was a little weird for a while, but we were soon engaged (another great story for another time) and then married. I think marrying your best friend is really the way to go!
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